You know it's critical to keep your car or truck running longer, stronger, and with less expense. But how can you make sure that happens? With Preventative Maintenance, of course! The Page's Mt. Hood Auto and Tire crew believes in the power of regular checks under your hood, whether you need an oil change or transmission repair, because it keeps you and your family safe and saves you lots of money.
Remember that something as small as a fouled spark plug or restricted fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent. That means you're losing hundreds of dollars a year at the fuel pump when regular maintenance could have spotted and solved your problem for next to nothing.
That's just one of the reasons we encourage preventative maintenance services like the following:
oil change
We'll check your car or truck's oil level when the engine is cold, and the vehicle is on level ground. This is also an excellent time to inspect and change the engine's oil filter. At every other oil change, we'll check the air filtration system for clogging or damage to keep your vehicle performing at peak condition. Inspect your owner's manual, but a good rule of thumb is to have your oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles.
Front & Rear Differential
We drain and flush the rear-end fluid to remove metal filings and other debris that can accumulate in the differential housing. We also replace the differential cover gasket and add any recommended supplemental additive prescribed by the owner's manual. This service extends the life of the differential, minimizes the effects of oxidation deterioration due to heat and high-speed driving, reduces wear and tear, minimizes high-speed foaming of fluid, which can decrease lubrication efficiency, and provides protection against rust and corrosion.
AC service
The air conditioning system is under high pressure and should only be serviced by a trained professional. Low refrigerant oil levels can cause premature wear on air compressors and decrease overall AC performance. We'll check the air conditioning refrigerant for proper pressure, ensure the refrigerant oil level is ideal for your vehicle, and then deodorize the system when finished.
Brake system service
Don't wait until you hear grinding noises to have your brakes inspected. Your car or truck's brake fluid retains moisture, which can lead to increased wear and tear on your brake pads and shoes. We'll flush the brake fluid and remove the air from the system to keep the brakes working effectively. This service maximizes stopping capability, delivers smoother, safer operation, and prevents corrosion and premature wear on hydraulic components.
Tire Inspections
Know the recommended amount of air for your vehicle's tires and check their levels once a month. This is the cheapest form of preventative maintenance. It's also critical because under-inflated tires can result in a loss of fuel efficiency. If you need guidance or replacements, we can help!
Battery Assessment
When left untended, battery cables and posts can accrue for corrosion. They should be cleaned as needed. The battery fluid should also be checked and filled if it is low.
Transmission Flush
For an automatic transmission, we check the fluid level when the engine is running and the vehicle is parked. Manual transmission requires us to access a drain plug under the vehicle. In both cases, the old fluid is flushed, and new fluid is added.
Transfer Case
On 4-wheel drive transmissions, we remove contaminated gear oil from your vehicle's transfer case and replace it with new oil with the correct additives to keep the gears operating smoothly. This service extends the life of the transfer case, minimizes the effects of oxidation deterioration due to heat and high-speed driving, reduces wear and tear, and minimizes high-speed foaming of fluid that can decrease lubrication efficiency.
Cooling System Flush
We drain and flush the old coolant from your vehicle's radiator and reservoir bottle, inspect the heater, radiator hoses, and clamps for replacement, and install a new, vented radiator cap. A vented radiator cap safely removes hot steam from the radiator, making emergency roadside coolant inspections easier and safer. This service enables better efficiency and cooling in your air conditioning system, prevents breakdowns from engine overheating, and provides longer engine life.
Power steering flush
Your power steering fluid can become contaminated during everyday use. Dirty power steering fluid can cause the power steering pump or the power steering gear assemblies to fail, causing premature wear. Replacing the power steering fluid alleviates steering pump squeal, helps prevent stiff steering on cold starts, and extends the life of all hydraulic power steering components.
Drive Belts & Hoses
We'll check for worn, loose, frayed, or cracked belts. We'll also check your hoses for soft spots, bulges, or a cracking feeling and replace them all at the same time. If your car overheats or runs hotter than standard, we'll replace the thermostat. This service improves accessory performance, avoids severe engine damage and unexpected breakdowns, and ensures a consistent battery charge.
Suspension Check
Your chassis constantly rubs against other parts of your vehicle, so it's critical to have it lubricated regularly. This step extends the life of the moving components of the vehicle's suspension system and improves the overall ride of your car or truck.
Windshield Wiper Checks
You should have your windshield washer blades checked for cracks, tears, and contact with the windshield contact. Replace them approximately once a year or sooner if streaking begins.
